IFA 2014: Sony SmartWatch 3 arrives with Android Wear

Unlike many companies showing off their wearable wares at IFA this year, Sony is no stranger to the game – in fact its SmartWatch is now in its third generation.

However, the Sony SmartWatch 3 is the first to use Android Wear, and joins a growing gaggle of wrist-bound devices clamouring for attention.

Unlike many of them, the SmartWatch 3 is proudly plastic like its forebears, but the moulded silicon design falls well short of the visual standard set by rivals made from more premium materials, especially considering the €229 price tag.

The idea of the one-piece silicon strap/case is that the SmartWatch 3 itself can be popped out for easy customisation, such as to swap the pink strap for the equally tasteless lime green.

The display measures 1.6in across and boasts a 320 x 320-pixel resolution. There's plenty of power inside thanks to the 1.2GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor, which is supported by 512MB of RAM. Storage is 4GB, while the 420mAh battery will supposedly last four days on standby.

As you'd expect, the SmartWatch 3 is IP68 rated to withstand everyday downpours and the like.

Charging happens via the everyday microUSB, but the SmartWatch 3 does communicate wirelessly with your smartphone (Android 4.3 or newer), and if you've got Sony's Lifelog software installed, it'll do its bit to help keep track of your comings and goings.

Sony says the SmartWatch 3 will be available in the Autumn (that's pretty much now, then, isn't it?) and while it hasn't announced a UK price, the €229 figure in Euros converts to £180-ish, which ain't cheap.

Sony also unveiled the SmartBand Talk wristband, which features a 1.4in e-ink display and has a mic and speaker built in for taking calls. It's also IP68-protected, and is able to track your movements thanks to its included accelerometer and altimeter.

It too will arrive over the Autumn in either black or white, with the price still unconfirmed.